#Silk Handmade Paper for Sale

[therugfurnish]

Knot by Knot: The Intricate Process of Crafting Handmade Rugs

Handmade rugs are more than just floor coverings; they are works of art that embody centuries of tradition, culture, and craftsmanship. The process of creating these intricate pieces is a labor of love, requiring skill, patience, and attention to detail. Each rug tells a story, woven knot by knot, by artisans who have honed their craft over generations. This article delves into the fascinating and meticulous process of crafting handmade rugs.

1. Design and Planning

The journey of a Buy Handmade Rugs begins with a design. Artisans often draw inspiration from nature, history, and cultural motifs to create unique patterns. The design is meticulously planned on graph paper, with each square representing a single knot. This blueprint serves as a guide for the weavers, ensuring that the final product matches the envisioned pattern. The choice of colors is also crucial, as it adds depth and character to the rug.

2. Selecting the Materials

The quality of a handmade rug is heavily influenced by the materials used. Wool, silk, and cotton are the most common fibers, each offering distinct textures and durability. Wool is prized for its resilience and warmth, while silk adds a luxurious sheen and softness. handmade rug craftsmanship  The fibers are carefully selected, cleaned, and spun into yarn. Natural dyes, derived from plants, minerals, and insects, are often used to achieve vibrant and lasting colors. The dyeing process itself is an art, requiring precise knowledge of how different materials react to dyes.

3. Warping the Loom

Once the materials are ready, the loom is prepared. The warp threads, which form the foundation of the rug, are stretched vertically on the loom. This step is critical, as the tension and alignment of the warp threads determine the rug's shape and stability. The weaver must ensure that the threads are evenly spaced and taut, creating a solid base for the intricate knotting process.

4. Knotting

Knotting is the heart of rug-making, where the design truly comes to life. Each knot is tied by hand, a process that can take months or even years, depending on the rug's size and complexity.Handmade carpets online  There are various knotting techniques, with the Persian (Senneh) and Turkish (Ghiordes) knots being the most common. The weaver follows the design blueprint, tying each knot around the warp threads and securing it with a weft thread. This painstaking process requires immense concentration and dexterity, as even a small mistake can disrupt the pattern.

5. Weaving and Finishing

As the knots accumulate, the rug gradually takes shape. The weaver periodically inserts weft threads horizontally to lock the knots in place and add stability. Once the knotting is complete, the rug is cut from the loom and undergoes several finishing steps. The pile is trimmed to an even height, enhancing the clarity of the design . Rugs manufacturers in india The edges are secured with a binding stitch, and the rug is washed to remove any residual dye and dirt. This washing process also softens the fibers and brings out the colors' brilliance.

6. Inspection and Quality Control

Before a handmade rug is deemed ready for sale, it undergoes a thorough inspection. Artisans check for any inconsistencies in the pattern, color, or texture. Any imperfections are carefully corrected, ensuring that the rug meets the highest standards of quality. contemporary rug design This final step is crucial, as it guarantees that each rug is a flawless masterpiece, ready to adorn homes and spaces around the world.

Conclusion

The process of crafting handmade rugs is a testament to human ingenuity and dedication . Handmade Rugs Manufacturer Each rug is a unique creation, reflecting the skill and artistry of the weaver. From the initial design to the final inspection, every step is imbued with care and precision. Handmade rugs are not just decorative items; they are heirlooms that carry the legacy of their makers. By appreciating the intricate process behind these beautiful creations, we can truly value the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into every knot.

[lady-writes]

An explanatory comma, for a footnote within a footnote within an expansion of a drabble.

Hello I am a Nigerian American  designer tailor and seamstress. I have a lot of feelings about culture and fabric and how for me in particular they intertwine. 

This is a post about lace, and names, and art, and history, and fashion, and theft, and crimes.

I wrote a story about a woman from the black American diaspora becoming immortal and the way her first century alive changed her

I then wrote a story about that woman marrying a Jewish man and the intersection of their cultures and histories.

I made a note about a piece of Jewish wedding tradition, the chuppah, and how theirs was a lace tablecloth that was made originally by one of her enslaved and ancestors.

And then I wanted to name the fabric. I had an image in my mind of the fabric and I wanted that to translate because I knew that the cultural exchange between lace and African lace is a large one

Its easy enough to open a window and search for historical handmade African lace. That a lot of descriptors but I know what I'm looking for. then there were problems because “Africa no longer makes African Fabric”.

I could find records down to the year when a type of European lace was first named and who it was named for even. You can google lace and see hot many varieties pop up and all of them are attributed to largely European roots. None of those were my lace

I could find 7 varieties of lace being made around the world and shipped to west Africa and beyond for sale. I knew them all, I‘d worn them all. I saw thousand of pintrest results with hundred of likes and repins. I saw my lace. None of them, named my lace.

At best it was African Lace.

Lace is defined as a fine open fabric, typically one of cotton or silk, made by looping, twisting, or knitting thread in patterns and used especially for trimming garments. An academic paper (i was and am fucking determined) using this definition said that “ African Lace neither originated, nor is fabricated in Africa.” I know that’s not true I’ve seen it being stitched and dyed in the markets. If I wanted to I could make a facsimile of it myself with my 2 hands (and scissors needles thread and fabric that wouldn’t ravel for best results) That academic thesis paper is why I am writing this.

I called my mom to ask her for the name of the hand made lace, no not the mesh not the george or the guipure. The handmade one. We tossed around words, iro and buba, aso oke, adire, ankara, aso ebi, akwete. But none of those were the one and at this point I knew with out a name I was getting nowhere. She advised me to search in Yoruba, that it would bring me to more precise websites. She said she would try to remember. My Mother is 58 and speaks 4 languages fluently, she has a lot of words to go through

I went to Wikipedia, because may I could sus out other fabric types from neighboring countries, we share a lot with them in term of fabric and names and food. After all they used to be us, before colonization, I know my maternal grandmother’s tribal land was split in two, 3/4 to Ghana and the rest to Nigeria. I honestly doubt my maternal grandmother ever used those names for her home. But I don't know what she would have called it instead

Wikipedia was ok, its always fun looking at history and arts and seeing things i recognize from my parents home or my nightstand. But this time i notice the lace. It was used as trim in a slightly different style on so many garments. No name in the captions though. But holy shit it is everywhere, its a standard detail on so many gele and agbada and formal wear.

Wikipedia gave me one thing though: aran. The handmade velvet I have only ever seen on brides. That shit is hell softer than clouds moves like silk and in a traditional wedding ceremony the Bride is sent to her groom wrapped in aran and covered in as much precious coral as her family can afford (or now because we don't want the planet to die and can mass produce glass, as much weight as the woman is willing to bear on her head neck and body). It represents her personal wealth along with the backing and consent of her family. Real aran could possibly still be used this way

If i had aran, then maybe a Naija website that had aran would have the freaking lace too.

Searching aran got me a ton of Scotland and sweaters though. I found my way to an abbreviated list that I tried searching from but i only found other articles that had used it copy/paste wholesale. 

There was a promising website that looked like it had better details based on Google’s preview but the text of the article read like it had been written by a middle schooler and the promising line from google lead to a dead website.

Another google site was 3 pictures with text that I found through image search A woman was laying in the foreground, wrapped in deep red piece of checker block lace the best image I had seen thus far. the pictures caption? “ A collection of disappearing textiles,”  with countries of origin listed after, only one piece of fabric was named or even attached to a place.

 After judicious application of quote marks I found a research guide from U. Wisconsin Madison of all places (academia is back in my good graces and that the school that my dad applied and got into on his original student visa in 1981) 

A glossary of fabrics led to a breakdown on specific textiles and in there:

Heritage Aso Oke

It reads like and independent weaver retail and wholesalers site, the gallery runs on flash, the copyright is from 2012 and they have a Lagos address.

And in that gallery there are a bunch of pictures of the lace!!!! and other trim details I’ve seen a thousand times, punched edge trim and tufted fringe, I'm sure all of them have names too

I still had work to do but just seeing the woven net lace and the piecework, I actually choked up.

This was 2 almost 3 hours of my day not counting the time for me writing this.

The tradiitional West African “lace” made by the  Yoruba people is currently called ojawu ase oke, Ojawu is all I was looking for and eventually I found it. These two are from between 1880 and1900. My paternal grandfather for ref was born in 1889, exactly a century before me.

This is the legacy of invasion and colonization. This is living lost history and I hate that I wrote that phrase and its not hyperbole. My when I ask my dad about precolonial history he talks about his great grandparents (who he never would have known) as if they still had no option but leave and animal pelt. As if they were too primitive for the basic human inclinations towards art That’s the education Britain gave him, while I can use my shiny internet machine to find out little facts that make up part of the whole, like  how Nigerians had used cut pile embroidery and traded with India for beads in the 1500′s. But there’s still a glaring hole where i should be able to see what became of those (purely decorative  and made for aesthetics) beads.

This is one word in one line of a story maybe 100 people will read if I'm being incredibly generous, But that one word, the proper name of the art of making pieced lace and checkerboard lace is a cultural legacy too. Someone in West Africa once upon a time (more than 50 but less than 150) 

No one who is going to read this especially no one who reads this far is going to be capable of doing much to change the ugly nuisance nature of that. But still, try, it means a surprising amount to be able to look at a piece of you and know what to call it, to have something beyond a generic title to throw over generations of artisan culture.

I’ve bitched many times about how impossible it is to find information on my family more than 1 generation back  and my culture precolonization. those are very old gripes for me that I’ve made peace with but the frustration of seeing living breathing popular fashion that I’ve happily worn as a symbol my my family and culture and tribe and history and roots be UnNamed fuckin pissed me off. 

Because its still right here. It was on 75 percent of the images I saw featured, 10 percent more as men's trim. I can buy it at the store run by Vietnamese women 5 miles away. They sell ankara and kente too, and lately I heard them use Nigerian Pidgin, along with the English and Spanish and Vietnamese. I love it because if they sell my fabric I have a place to buy it and they have the best prices on or off the internet for Ankara by the yard or bolt.

I have 4 dresses in my closets in mock and modernized ojawu styles, machine embroidered and laser cut on net to make it affordable, Mine aren't even cut, save for one iro and buba with amazing adire work. And running through  the iro in what I can now peg as a men's style (shout out to my dad for tacitly acknowledging my queer in a language I'm only partially fluent in) traditional aso oke fabric in ivory and knot stitched and smooth as all hell, single strip and without the pulled thread detail that and edge piece would have. But there it is in my closet and now I know what to fucking call it 

The gele on my head here is modern machine made ojawu, pic from my cousins wedding before the plague times

[magalidragon]

So this is in response to a prompt ask I got awhile back from @freesoulladyaic— they requested beauty underneath and I am not sure exactly what but I think there was a mixup for which prompt list and number was requested so I went with the one I thought made most sense I hope you don’t mind and so sorry it has been so long! Enjoy!

Prompt: “I prefer you naked but that dress looks really good on you too.”

"Fuck!"

"Language."

Jon looked up from where he'd stabbed his thumb with a pin, a series of them stuck between his lips.  He made a face at his wife, who was on the other side of the room, working on another dress form.  He lifted up the yards of shades of red soft organza and tulle, which he'd been alternating in a macrame styling on the bodice of the gown.  He'd been pinning them to the waist, already marked on the form.  It was giving it a very ethereal look, but with the deep colors, indicative of the Targaryen crest, the overlay looked equal parts ash and fire.

He finished off the bodice, taking the remaining pins from his mouth, and turned the form, frowning at the back, where he wanted to make the two straps criss-crossing from shoulder to waist thicker, both in black.  The red was just the detailing.  He pursed his lips, contemplating how best to achieve this, and felt eyes on him.  He lifted his, meeting Dany's gaze across the studio.  He smirked.  "What?"

"You're so focused, so intense."  She licked her lips, arching her brow teasingly. She purred, "You know what that does to me."

"Keep it in your pants, we've got dresses to finish."

"Hmm, the auteur himself, Jon Snow, working on his creation."  She sauntered over, in her long black housecoat, which she wore when working, her feet bare on the hardwood and jeans rolled at the cuffs.  Her hair was bound up in a scarf, kept from her eyes while she worked.  It was a decidedly unsexy look, measuring tape over her shoulder, pincushion strapped to her wrist and her pockets heavy with thread and a little set of scissors tucked into a brace on her other wrist, like she was some sort of sewing superhero.

He smirked up at her, the stool he was on swiveling over to her.  "Well I promised the client that I would have my best men on it."  He puffed his chest.  "And that happens to be me."

"Funny, I thought I was the client."

"You are, what do you think so far?"  He chewed his bottom lip, studying her face as she perused the fabric draped and pinned to the form.  He pretended like her opinion meant nothing to him, but in reality it was the only one that mattered.  If there was even a hint of dislike, he'd destroy the entire thing and start again.  It worked both ways.

She trailed a finger along the macrame detailing, the straps across the back, and lifted up the tulle strewn along the floor.  On the table he had sketches of the design, fabric samples pinned to a board on an easel, and at least one of the leather leggings he'd been sewing to go underneath.  While she studied everything, he got up, too nervous to watch her, and went into the adjoining office, picking up his vape.

Clamping his lips around it, he puffed, holding it in his mouth like a 'binkie' as Dany teased him, and picked up some sales reports, flicking through the assessments from their CFO.  They'd poached Willas Tyrell from his grandmother, mostly because he was bored with the steadiness of the established company and wanted something new.  He was brilliant, had taken their sales higher than even Jon had imagined-- and that was pretty far.

Dragonwolf had become the most sought after couture house in Westeros, while he transitioned L.Stark into an upscale ready-to-wear line, headed by Sansa.  Dany still maintained her CEO position over Dracarys, but Missandei had taken over as creative director.  It afforded him more time, he'd discovered, to do the things he really enjoyed doing.

Hanging out with Ghost, coming up with new creations, and Dany, not necessarily in that order.

He sucked down the fake smoke from the vape, tricking his brain it was actually a real cigarette, the action habitual and relaxing his nerves.  He sank into his chair, glancing at the photo of his mother he kept on the edge of the desk, smiling briefly at the image of her laughing, arms around him as he was wrapped up in fabric from playing in her studio.  His gaze darted to the image right beside it, of Dany in the same pose, hugging him after she had wrapped him up in fabric too.  It was in the same place, the same location he'd just come from, their private studio in the old townhome in Winterfell.

The vape still between his lips, he moved to the window, cranking it open and blowing smoke into the nighttime air, glancing towards the castle up on the hill.  The dresses were for the annual Winter's Eve Gala event, something of a who's who in the zoo of the Westerosi peerage and entertainment industry.  It was a chance for the Starks to show off the castle, everyone to arrive dripping in icy couture and jewels, and pretend like they gave a shit about the lesser people among them. There would be a famous silent auction, fundraising for the Lyanna Stark Memorial Fund-- which was incredibly important to his heart-- along with an award that would honor someone who had contributed significantly to Lyanna's chosen cause-- orphaned children.

But the thing people seemed to care most about was what everyone would be wearing.

He was making Dany's dress and she was making a dress for a new young actress as well as the young cousin of her friend Ser Jorah Mormont.  Lyanna Mormont was a Lady, technically, but you wouldn't know it.  She was a pistol.  This would be her first big event after her first movie had hit the scene, garnering her immediate raves and attention.  It was a big deal for her to be getting a chance to wear a Dracarys creation, especially handmade by Dany herself, but it was the least Dany said she could do for the young girl who made her smile and laugh every single time she encountered her.

Jon finished his vape, returning to the studio, and found Dany back to work on Lyanna's dress.  There were no notes left for him, so he continued to work, both of them silent.  He kept at it, accepting her kiss and murmured "don't stay up too late" with a distracted nod, remaining at his station into the night.  He pinned and draped and sewed, every stitch even, like his mother taught him.

Around two in the morning, his eyes burned, but he leaned back in his chair, feet up on his desk, and Ghost under his legs, fast asleep.  He was working on the leggings, finding hand-sewing leather to actually be a relaxing task.  It was soft in his hands, buttery almost, and he likened it to his mother, watching her work on making her own riding clothes.  He took a deep breath, slowly releasing it, and pulled on thread, slipping it in and out, until his eyes drooped further and further, until he was fast asleep.

--

The suit he'd chosen to wear was one of Dany's. The irony of L.Stark by Jon Snow, award winning and bestselling couture men's designer wearing a suit from anyone but his own line, especially Dracarys.  It was something he never would have thought possible two years ago when they were at the height of their hatred for each other.  Nay, he corrected himself, it wasn't hating, it was unresolved tension, best resolved by the explosion most everyone witnessed at the MET gala.

He adjusted his tie in the mirror, smoothing the velvet brocade over his chest, eyeing Ghost, who looked like he wanted to run up to him.  He pointed his finger, warning.  "No way. This is black velvet.  I'll never get your fur out."

Ghost wagged his tail, thankfully staying put on the bed.

Indeed, it was an incredibly comfortable and finely detailed suit, black silk tie with matching black velvet brocade along it-- if you got close enough you could see it was wolves and dragons running and tangling throughout, swirls of flames and snow following them.  That was a hallmark of Dany-- her ability to tell stories with her designs and the intricacies of her attention to detail.

He left their room, knowing she was elsewhere in the suite at Winterfell, where they'd deigned to stay that evening to prepare for the event.  He thought it a little silly; they would have to pretend to "leave" just to "arrive" at the same location and walk up the icy blue carpet with photographers.

Price they paid, he supposed, for business.

He left the suite, taking his time down the set of stone stairs spiraling down from their sitting and bedroom areas, into a receiving hall.  Davos was already waiting, their constant taskmaster, and he had Satin floating about somewhere.  "Where's Arya?" he asked.

"I believe she said and I quote 'fuck this shit, I'm not going.'"

He snorted, fixing his cufflinks.  "Sounds about right."

Davos checked his watch.  "I'll go check on the car."

"Stupid Davos, this is stupid."

"It's just a whip around the block."  Davos nodded, signing, resigned.  "Although aye, it is stupid."

"What's stupid?"

Jon heard Dany's voice before he saw her, and turned, looking up the stairs to where she was at the top, waiting for him.  He gaped, mute, and jaw dropping the moment his eyes rested on her form.  It took his brain a second to catch up with his body, which was already responding in kind, and another second for his voice to return.

He choked, watching her smirk at him, knowing exactly how she appeared and what she was doing.  Especially with the slow descent she took, every step tiny, allowing the full effect of her appearance to settle.  He could not believe it.

It was one thing to see a dress on paper, another in progress, and even the final version on the form or on a model down the runway.

It was another when it was on the person who inspired it, who it was meant for, from the first sketch to the final stitch.

Dany floated down the stairs, the dress whispering around her, the crimson and black rippling through the soft tulle.  It gave her a fairy-like appearance, but it was the black macrame, the black strappy heels on her feet, and her black fingernails, leather leggings, and crimson lips that warned eveyrone she was no simpering little thing.  She would burn you alive.

The skirt floated about her and she had topped it off with the see-through tulle gloves he'd made at the last minute.  Her silver tresses were spun in a complicated braided style, mountains of them criss-crossing and tangling in a crown about her head.

Someone asked her once why she always wore her hair in such intricate braids-- it had become her trademark.  "When I was growing up I learned a lot about the Dothraki tradition of a braid for a victory," she explained.  She had smirked.  "I grew up with the Dothraki.  They were my family.  I have never been defeated.  The braids show that."

Jon couldn't believe how gorgeous she was.

Or how lucky he happened to be.

He unstuck his tongue from the roof of his mouth, found his voice.  "You know, I prefer you naked but that dress looks really good on you too."

Dany beamed, her smile beatific.  She offered her elbow to him, to take and lead her away to their car, but instead he lifted her hand delicately, even though that had was stronger than anyone would have thought at first look.  Eyes on hers, unblinking, he dragged his fingertips up the tulle, delighting in her breathy hiss.

He dipped under the top of the glove, above her elbow, and began to peel it down, agonizingly slow.  Her pupils dilated and mouth fell, her tongue darting out to nervously wet her lips.  He plucked at fingers, removing the glove.  With her skin bared, he stroked her forearm and then lifted her knuckles to his lips, brushing over them.

"Jon," she gasped, brows arching.  "We're going to be late."

"Do you think I care?"

"It took forever to get into this dress and look like this."

He spun her into his arms, tossing the glove down, and nosed at her neck, whispering along her racing pulse.  "I made the dress, I'll be careful."

"Not a word in your vocabulary."

He didn't acknowledge that, because he was kissing her.  After a moment, he lifted her under her knees, hurrying her back towards the stairs, to her delighted giggles.

Occupational hazard, he thought, later when they were late, racing down the carpet instead of allowing photos taken.  He made her the dresses, even though honestly, she looked good in anything.  Or nothing, as the case may be.

"Dany, who are you wearing?" someone called out.

Dany shouted back.  "Who do you think?"

He laughed, racing after her and not even bothering to answer the same question directed at him.

[moonstruckbucky]

Royal Holiday (1/6)

Summary: Bucky Barnes is bored - trust him, he knows how that sounds. But being royalty, in his humble opinion, isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Time to mix it up a bit.

Pairing: Prince!Bucky Barnes x fem!Reader, modern AU

Warnings: None

Notes: Here it is, my submission for @heamarvel​‘s Hallmark Event! Hope you all enjoy! Feedback is appreciated. x

Series Masterlist / Main Masterlist

If it’s one thing Bucky hates, it’s diplomacy. Ironic, considering he’s currently neck-deep in a manifesto his father had dropped into his lap a week ago. Ironic still, considering he’s a bloody prince. Not a prince who prances around in jewels or silks, but a prince nonetheless - a prince with responsibilities and a duty to his country when the throne eventually comes to him.

It’s a mantra he’s heard his entire life, and it’s a mantra he’d really love to stop hearing before he takes a screwdriver to his eardrums.

He knows it’s unfair, knows he’s got it better than most, and he respects that - kind of. While he wants for nothing, he feels trapped, imprisoned by duty, regality, and nobility. Bowing under the weight of his future, the eventuality that he’ll be a king. He’ll need to command and rule and say goodbye to his freedom - however much of it he has.

He’s already damn tired of it.

And that’s why his unofficial-official bodyguard Sam finds him open-mouthed and snoring behind his desk in his office. The older man isn’t surprised by it really. Having been with the Royal Family for close to ten years now, he knows Bucky’s mannerisms, habits, quirks, and annoyances better than most, and while he wishes Bucky would grow up a little, he isn’t quite so strict as his Queen Mother over his behavior.

Sam purses his lips, rolls his eyes a bit, before he creeps to the desk. Reaches for the massive manifesto that sits open in front of Bucky, snaps it closed, the dark-skinned man’s gaze flits between the two for a few moments.

A little humming under his breath, he lifts the binder over his head above the desk, lets it drop with a loud slam that wakes Bucky with a jolt and a girlish yelp. He flies backwards and his weight shifting tips the chair. Trinkets and knick-knacks rattle as he and the chair hit the floor. Sam waits patiently, tipping a snowglobe on the shelf beside him, while Bucky splutters and curses him out.

“The hell was that for, Wilson?” he grouses, rubbing the back of his head where it hit the floor.

“Your mother is requesting you,” Sam responds with a pointed look, setting the snowglobe down.

Bucky feels himself scowl before he can stop it. He loves his mother, he does, but he knows what she’s going to speak to him about - it’s the same thing she always wants to talk to him about.

“Do I have to?” He knows he sounds like a petulant child, he knows, but if he’s honest, he’d rather play Baby Shark on repeat for the rest of his life than listen to his mother prattle on and on about how it’s time for him to find a wife. A suitable one, one of noble birth. One who’s proper and polite and graceful.

Bucky wants something different.

He admits he hasn’t thought much about marrying (clearly) or even falling in love, but as he gets older, grows closer to becoming a king and taking on more responsibility, the prospect of finding someone to share that with occasionally crosses his mind. He has no doubt his mother would find someone who’ll make him happy, but the idea of having his bride chosen for him, the risk of being trapped in a forced marriage, doesn’t sit well with him at all.

Sam gives him an exasperated look. Nodding sagely, he sighs and straightens his shirt, slightly wrinkled thanks to Sam. Following the older man out, he prepares himself for the conversation he’s heard a thousand times before.

She’s relentless, he decides, and he finally figures out where his stubbornness came from. She’s organizing a gala in his honor, a presentation of him as an eligible bachelor, and she’s taken the liberty of inviting every eligible heiress, princess, and everyone in between in a massive effort to get him to connect with someone.

She’s frustrated with him when he voices as much, voice growing higher with her irritation. “James Buchanan, it is your responsibility to marry. You’re nearly thirty, and you’ve yet to choose a wife! You’re not getting any younger and should you choose not to marry, your reign will be forfeited!”

Ah yes, the little wrench in the system. A decision made by the country’s parliament as a failsafe in case Bucky clutched his bachelor lifestyle to the vest. Clearly they hadn’t had much fail in him to marry and rule successfully, and a small part of him wants to shove their faces in it.

But only if it’s on his terms.

“Sounds like a dream to me,” he mutters back, just loud enough for his mother to hear him. She screeches, kind of like a hawk - or a banshee - and Bucky feels a little bad. But only a little. Gesticulating wildly, he exclaims, “What? Would it really be so bad if we just gave the crown to parliament? I’m sure Pierce would be happy to take it. After all, can’t have a thirty-year-old playboy bachelor ruling alone, can we? Bad for his family’s image, isn’t it?”

She opens her mouth to retort, offense written clearly on her face, but Bucky sweeps from the office before she can utter another word. Sam is waiting for him outside the door, and he straightens, tries to act like he hadn’t been eavesdropping on the loud exchange.

“Let’s go Sam,” Bucky orders, “I need to get out of here for a while.”

Sam doesn’t hesitate - he calls for a car and fetches Bucky’s winter coat. “Yes, sir.”

You resist the urge to slam the phone down into the cradle, opting instead to gently place it back where it belongs. But you do give it the middle finger as you scribble out the order you’d gotten halfway through before the customer decided she didn’t want to spend fifty dollars plus delivery on a floral arrangement.

Tossing the paper in the trash, you walk around the counter to straighten out the displays of vases, each holding stems of various flowers. Casting a glance out the window, you sigh at the people who walk right by your shop, despite the inviting fairy lights, the floral displays and boxwood trees in the windows, and soft Christmas music playing from the speaker system.

It’s a month until Christmas, and your orders are down - again. You’re not sure why, but there’s been a steady decline in sales for the past six months. Dejectedly, you chalk it up to people losing interest in sending flowers to people, with the exception of funeral arrangements if only because people die every day. In New York, it’s unheard of that people can’t afford flowers - most can. They just don’t send them. The classic gesture is being swept under the rug in favor of material things - new electronics, vacations, jewelry.

It saddens your heart to think it, but it’s true, and if sales don’t pick up, you’ll be forced to sell the building you left everything behind to buy. Tail tucked between your legs, you’ll plant yourself behind a desk for the next foreseeable future, working overtime to pay off the expenses from the flower shop.

Misty-eyed, you sniffle and clean the stamens from the stems of stargazer lilies. A little unusual to carry them this time of year, but they’d been a special request from someone who’d never showed to pick them up. Usually it’s easy to lose yourself in the pretty colors and scents of flowers, but now, you can’t even be bothered to make new arrangements for fear they’ll go to waste - then it’s more money down the drain.

Instead, you clean the shop from top to bottom, rearrange the displays, open the door despite the chilling air and display a boxwood tree - handmade - out in front. A couple slow in front of the shop, eyeing the boxwood tree. The woman smiles, pointing happily to it, remarks about bringing it for Christmas dinner.

To your joy, the husband agrees and they step inside to order one with red and gold decorations. It’s a steep sale - $100 plus tax - but it’s not quite enough to cover your rent for the month just yet. A few more boxwood tree sales and you’ll be covered. Surprisingly, you catch the woman taking a photo of the boxwood tree outside as the husband places the order.

“I’m going to send this to Sue! I’m sure she’ll love one for her house!”

You smile gratefully, hoping like hell this Sue woman indeed places the order with you. The couple waves pleasantly, offering their names - Jack and Michaela - and then they take their leave. A few more people trickle in, place orders for both Christmas and for Thanksgiving centerpieces, and you take a couple of phone calls - one to actually order, one for general information. It turns into a fairly successful afternoon, and as you get ready to close, you feel a little hope blooming in your chest.

Hope that you might not lose your dream.

Outside on the busy streets, Bucky is blown away. He’d insisted on getting far, far away from the royal house despite Sam’s initial reluctance. Bucky was a prince, a known prince, and both paparazzi and people could be unpredictable. Not to mention, he’s sure there would be people willing to hurt Bucky, ransom him or something to make money off his family - okay, Sam knows that particular scenario might be a stretch, but it’s what he’d been trained for.

Bucky’s like a kid in a candy store, weaving in and out of the crowd, ducking into this store and that, experiencing regular city life like he never got to. It had always been schedules and propriety and rigidness that he’s relishing a bit in the freedom to just be. He buys Sam a new winter coat, one that blends in a bit better with the public, and he settles on a peacoat, scarf, and paperboy hat for himself. He feels...normal, and on the street, no one recognizes him.

As he strolls down the sidewalk in the fading light, he catches a glimpse of fairy lights across the street. A woman stands outside the door, beige coat and burgundy hat in place. When Bucky crosses the street, he realizes she’s staring at the building, which he now notes is a florist shop. There’s a longing in her gaze, a shininess that suggests she might be on the verge of tears.

There’s a pull deep inside him, compelling him towards her. It’s like she’s pulled him into her orbit, and Bucky doesn’t think he’s ever had this kind of reaction to a woman before. He doesn’t even know her and yet he desperately wants to, needs to know her. He’s entranced by the look on her face, an expression of sheer yearning paired with sadness trapped within it. He wants to kiss it away, and his reaction should startle him.

But it doesn’t. It only forces that tug to pull harder, and he takes a few steps forward. Before Bucky can approach her, he’s swept up in a crowd and loses sight of her. When he steps out of the throng, he searches for the woman, but she’s gone.

Chapter Two

[cennettekimaymun]

Area Rug Buyers Guide

When decorating and purchasing with an oriental rug, Area Rug Buyers Guide provides some crucial useful factors to consider. When you begin embellishing your home there are some important aspects to think about. Your floors will normally be the foundation for your design. An authentic hand made area rug can visually integrate or integrate varied components in any type of decor or can re-energise a room. Below are different aspects to think about for buying and also decorating with an oriental rug.

1. Dimension of the Rug - Area to be covered Dimension up the space as well as the location you intend to cover. One of the most common area rug sizes are 6-by-9 and also 4-by-6 feet. They function well under a coffee table. An 8-by-10-foot area rug or bigger can cover an entire space. Smaller area and also scatter rugs can be suitable for decorating smaller rooms-- a fireplace, a bedside, the location before a kitchen sink-- with a sprinkle of colour and heat.

2. In the Home Living Room In a living-room, the area rug would probably be put in front of the sofa and under the coffee table. To place a room-sized area rug on a wood floor, pick an area rug which permits 8 inches (twenty centimetres) of timber to be revealed around the rug's boundary. Action the open room approximately the sofa and also chairs making certain that the individual seated will have both feet on the area rug. You can have more than one area rug serves.

Dining-room There ought to be space to draw the chairs out from the table with the back legs of the chairs remaining on the area rug.

Staircases Try to find dark and hectic patterns Dark wool rugs are fantastic for this

Hallways & Entrances Thick Patterns Woollen stack (Most long lasting) with cotton foundation (solid and does not shed shape) is optimal. Really light colours are not suggested

Bedroom Do not suggest a space size Persian/Oriental area rug for the bedroom. Most of the pattern will certainly be hidden under the bed at night making the rug prone to moth damages. Instead, utilise several area rugs. A rug at the foot of the bed and also two on each side Or use several scatter rugs to load areas around the bed as required. It will really set you back much less and also match your furnishings much better.

3. Home furnishings Begin with the end in mind. Envision the ended up look of the space. Do you prefer the thin, clean look or you have a room rich with appearances as well as colours? Bear in mind that a rug is the biggest sprinkle of colour in any type of space. Select your rug initially, and afterwards the furniture to mix with the rug. Furniture must improve the rug design or colours found in the rug Next comes window therapy as well as wall surfaces; neutral shades are advised. Elements of a rug layout can be more incorporated right into the overall layout plan. For instance, if the rug is flower, add mounted prints or flowers in comparable colours. On the other hand, ought to your focal point be furniture, choose a rug to choose up the colours used in your furniture patterns. Patterns can be blended if they are coordinated by colour. Don't get discouraged if you are having problems finding an area rug to assimilate with your decoration.

4. Making Use Of Multiple Area Rugs Should you make use of one rug or 2? One rug is the general rule as it coordinates the space together and helps choose fabrics for furniture, curtains, etc . In a very big area, more than one rug can be made use of to divide the room. The layouts of the rugs must be various adequate to create spatial splitting up, but comparable in colour and high quality to preserve the integrity of the area area. 2 or even more rugs need to match each various other One requires to be dominant in size They need to be comparable in at the very least design/colour/size Smaller sized rugs must not look like clones

5. Colour Select a rug to pick up the colours used in your furniture patterns if remodelling an already provided room. When colour coordinating, paint or paper the wall surfaces in colours found in the rug. Search for a rug that h! as commonness with the existing colour of the walls. A rug with a strong, total style can be the centrepiece of a room with a chair and sofa in solid or subdued patterns. Light coloured rugs make a room look more spacious, as well as deeper colours lend cosiness to an area.

6. Resilience For floor rugs, wool is typically a preferred option as it resists day-to-day wear better than synthetics. Woollen has several wonderful high qualities- deep, abundant colour tones, high toughness and loved one convenience of treatment. For more info, you can read the article Advantages of Wool over Synthetic Fibres. Silk rugs are better utilised for walls, tosses and so on. Living spaces are optimal to showcase silk rugs. Chromium dyes are solid as well as supply consistency and also resilience of colour. Veggie dyes provide the rug an ageing of colour, a laid-back look that is extremely eye-catching.

7. Shape Let your embellishing style determine your rug shape. Do not be restricted to the concept of obtaining a rectangular rug. A round or octagonal-shaped flooring covering can include flair and also beauty.

8. What is the dealership return plan? You should at least have a one-week safe trial duration to experience the rug. You can evaluate the wool structure, dye high quality (take a moistened paper towel and run it along the edges and centre, the dye should not haemorrhage out) & see if it matches your house décor.

Other factors to consider Design area rugs need to be centred in the space as well as directly under the chandelier Don't select a hectic area rug if the room's colour scheme and patterns are hectic. Maintain your household risk-free by ensuring that rug edges do not expand into high web traffic locations. Keep an eye out for the edge. If the rug you such as has fringe, ensure it's sewn on well, and really carefully use the vacuum cleaner

Check out the back of a rug, as this will normally tell if it is a machine or handmade. It's an equipment rug if the fibres are tight and run directly up and down. When buying oriental rugs, prevent going-out-of-business sales and also public auctions where vendors aren't likely to be about later on if your rug has a problem. In all areas try to prevent having the corner of the rug wind up in the middle of the doors or archway openings.

For smaller rooms, a tiny pattern is better. It provides the look of a bigger area. Don't get a hand-made area rug if you're looking for outright excellence. Pricey hand-made rugs are not made even off as properly as imitation industrial reproductions.

Do not ignore the worth of a rug. Not just will it take in the effect of feet as well as sound, yet it will additionally lower deterioration on the rug as well as make vacuuming much easier. It is advised to rotate rugs finish for end on an annual basis to match wear. Oriental rugs discolour, as does upholstery. Stay clear of direct sunshine. One more referral is to have rugs cleaned skilfully occasionally by a credible cleaner.

Area Rug Buyers Guide supplies some vital useful considerations when embellishing and purchasing with an oriental rug. An authentic hand made area rug can aesthetically incorporate or balance varied aspects in any style or can re-energise a room. A rug at the foot of the bed and two on each side Or make use of numerous scatter rugs to load areas around the bed as needed. Select your rug first, and also after that the furniture to blend with the rug. Furniture ought to improve the rug style or colours located in the rug Next comes window therapy and also walls; neutral shades are suggested.

[packagingbyfrescoes]

FRESCOES

If you are in the business of sweets, cakes, chocolates, brownies or dryfruits and looking for an affordable yet attractive box packaging solution for your Food items or gifts, FRESCOES, Kolkata (Designer/ Manufacturer) is THE SOURCE FOR Ready-to-deliver CREATIVE PACKAGING.

Navayug Creations specialises in designing and production of gourmet gift boxes to suit any corporate or personal gift giving occasion. Choose from chocolate only boxes, decorative dry-fruit/ sweets trays, or try our hamper style options which will delight even the most discerning of connoisseurs. Beautifully styled with embossing and printing on paper, cardboard or wood, these gift boxes are a pleasure to give or receive.

PRODUCTS

Gift Boxes, cases, trays and platters, folding and rigid bakery confectionery packaging, cake cakesicles brownie macaron boxes, cupcake boxes, chocolate boxes, candy & sweets boxes, punch boxes, rigid boxes, paperboard boxes, plastic clear boxes, Dry Fruit Boxes, Dates Boxes, Festive Boxes, Food trays, Hamper Boxes, trays baskets Jewellery Boxes, Wedding boxes, Invitation Boxes, Gift Bags, Chocolates, wedding INVITATION cards, gift packaging, dryfruits, gift boxes, wine boxes, transparent window boxes, paper bags

DESIGN

Traditional, Modern, Classic, Trendy, Elegant, Vintage, Unique

MATERIALS

Imported high-gsm papers, fancy boards, handmade papers, cardboard, wood, acrylic, leather, fancy leather, silk, velvet fabrics, brocade, embellishments and laser-cut motifs.

APPLICATIONS

The Gift boxes are suitable for day-to-day sales, take-away, take-out, WEDDINGS, Engagement, Baby Announcement, Baby shower, Birth Ceremonies, Rakshabandhan, Eid, Diwali, Christmas, New Year, Valentine's, Birthdays, Corporate Gifting, Festivals and other functions.

PERSONALIZATION

We work with you to customise our beautiful boxes with your branding, logo and messages.

INDIA_WIDE SHIPPING

Manufactured in Kolkata, India, the boxes are high quality and durable to be shipped all over India.

TOP QUALITY

Best food grade biodegradable eco-friendly PAPERS and Cardboard is used with latest printing technology and skilled labour of West Bengal.

CLIENTS

Resellers, Sweet shops, Dry-Fruits Vendors, bakery, Caterers, Home bakers, Home-made Chocolate stores, Corporate Houses, Wedding Planners, Cakery, Patisserie, Boulangerie, Cafe, Trousseau Packers, Restaurant, premium Hotels, Retailers, Export Houses, Food consultants, Tea houses

PRICES

Affordable and Wholesale Factory Rates.

CUSTOM-MADE

For large quantity orders, design, colors and papers can be customized to suit your requirement.

STOCKS

Huge stocks of attractive bakery and gift packaging are maintained for instant delivery at your doorstep so that you can deliver your gourmet goodies safely to your customers.

DEALERS

All over india. Whatsapp for details.

CONTACT

Get in touch with us for a review of your packaging and assistance in finding the best packaging solution for your business.

To contact us call 09230088873 or email frescoes.boxes@gmail.com

[miammmiam]

In Berlin this Sunday the weather is grey, so please stay in bed: 🐱Gute Nacht 🐈 handprint silk screen 3 colors on paper “Dorée” 170 Gr 42x29,7 cm, limited edition: 28 signed and numbered copies, 2019. On sale on my online shop (link On my bio) . . . . #screenprinting #screenprint #siebdruck #mini #cute #illustration #serigraphie #serigraphy #print #gutenacht #goodnight #bonne nuit #onpaper #mignon #dessin #love #couple #limitededition #stattlab #handmade #kotek #chat #cat #chats #katze #cutecat #limitededition #paar #pärchen #liebe #amour #kiss https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzm5o9YivI5/?igshid=lcqk9l93j1vl

[madeinmultan-blog]

❤ HANDMADE PARTY COLLECTION - BEST SALE PRICE OFFER ❤ Beautiful Collection Of Gotta Patti Work & Aar Embroidery On Paper Cotton Fabric, 2 Piece Unstitch Suit With Block Print Embroiered Doriya Net Dupatta - LIMITED STOCK Shirt: Paper Cotton | Embroidery: Handmade | Dupatta: Printed Doriya Net For Order/Details Whatsapp us 03018633968 Payment Method: Cash on Delivery, JazzCash, Easypaisa & Bank Transfer Delivery Charges Are Included In Price, We Deliver All Over Pakistan & Worldwide 🚚 👉 NOTE: ONLY DEFECTIVE PRODUCT IS EXCHANGEABLE. 7 DAYS EXCHANGE POLICY #MachineEmbroidery #IndianGottaDupatta #CottonSuits #FancyPartyWears #MukeshEmbroidery #PakistaniFancyDresses #MadeInMultan #CrinkleChiffon #PartyDresses #FancyMirrorDresses #IndianSilk #PastingGottaDupatta #PaksitaniSuitings #Chunri #Silk #Organza #MultaniDupatta #FancyDupatta #SilkDupatta #MultaniChader #MultaniShawl #SwissLawn #ChiffonDupatta #LawnDupatta #LawnShawl #ChikanLawn #IndianDupatta #OrganzaBrochia #MultaniAjrak (at Multan ملتان) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cex-hBxIBGN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ayeshascollectionstore]

🔥🔥Follow 👉ayeshas collection store 👗 💞💞#WINTER#SEASON #COLLECTION #2k21🇵🇰   💥💥💥#SALE #SALE #SALE💥💥💥 💥💥💥 NEW ARRIVAL💥💥💥 💞💞💞 - Paper silk fabric shirt with beautiful sequence work jhumka style - Indian net handmade mirror work dupatta with 4 side border and tussles - Self masuri trouser 3PC Suit 💞💞💞 💰PRICE:2950/- WITH FREE HOME DELIVERY. 🧵 STITCHING FACILITY IS AVAILBLE🪡 💰PAYMENT MODE: CASH ON DELIVERY-BANK TRANSFER-EASYPAISA-JAZZCASH FOR ORDER INBOX📩 US OR WHATSAPP ON 0314 783 38 38 0300 70 40 601 https://www.instagram.com/p/CYqDAkBpdEg/?utm_medium=tumblr

[michaelsrugstudio]

How Does an Artisan Weave a Rug?

Combine a century’s worth of tradition and knowledge with expert design talent, and what do you get? The best area rug store in Jacksonville, Florida, of course! Whether you’re looking for contemporary rugs for sale in Jacksonville, handmade rugs in Jacksonville, or casual rugs in Jacksonville, our Jacksonville rug gallery won’t disappoint.

But how do we do it? Here’s how we create unique area rugs.

Wool to Yarn

While silk, cotton, and other materials can be used to make rugs, the most popular is wool. The raw wool is separated by machine or hand to break apart the clusters and remove foreign particles that might have gotten stuck in the unfinished wool. The machine separates this into individual strands, and then it is spun into yarn by a machine.

Washing of the Yarn

To remove grease and dirt, the yarn is then washed in detergent and then immersed in clean water to remove the detergent from the yarn. It is wrung out and then placed in the sun to dry.

Dyeing the Yarn

To achieve the specific color needed, the yarn is then dyed. The yarn is placed on a rack and plunged into a dye treatment. The dye can be manmade or naturally-based, dependent upon the type of hue needed. After this process is complete, the dyed yarn is dried in the sun again.

Weaving the Carpet

The three best methods for the perfect rug are tufting, hooking, and knotting.

Knotting

First, artists draw the intended design on graph paper. A frame is then made by elongating vertical rows of thread (which are called “warps” and are made of cotton) down the loom. The weaver then goes across on each strand, knotting as they go. There are three methods: Tibetan, Persian, and Turkish.

Hooking

The weaver sits on a scaffolding ledge and is lifted and lowered. The weaver is able to use a specialized tool to “hook” the fabric backward and forward through a cotton base. While the scaffolding might seem complex, this is actually the easiest (and least expensive) way to weave a rug.

Tufting

Instead of a grid-like pattern with knotting, the pattern used is instead drawn on the backing (usually cotton) using a stencil. The weaver inserts the yarn into the backing using a special tufting tool. Once finished, the backing material is covered in latex to seal it, and a second material is attached for good measure/security. The rug is then shorn to create a smooth, flat surface.

Final Wash

The final step with weaving is to wash it. This process involves pouring clean water on the rug and then running flat wood planks with sharp edges, much like a Squeegee, to force water through the rug.

While these are the basics and seem quite simple, it is a practice for the learned and skilled in the trade. At Michael’s Rug Studio in Jacksonville, we have over a century’s worth of knowledge passed down from father to son. The process, start to finish, can take weeks or months to do, but the end result is worth the effort. Michael’s Rug Studio takes pride in each rug we create. We make certain each one meets our high standards and the customer’s, ensuring satisfaction with the product all-around. If you can dream it, we can weave it!

Talk with the Artisans at Michael’s Rug Studio

Come in and browse our rug studio in Jacksonville or take a look at our professional carpet cleaning options. You can also call our store at 904-504-4665, shop online, or schedule an appointment at our showroom with one of our knowledgeable rug artisans. Purchase area rugs in Jacksonville at Michael’s Rug Studio.

[cathornaccessory]

For just $46.00 -Prehnite -14k Rose Gold Fill & Vermeil -100% Silk Macrame The focal point of this upscale macrame bracelet is the prehnite set in a bezel at its center. The stone is glowing seafoam green and it is set in a rose gold vermeil bezel. The straps are hand-knotted with soft and luxurious 100% silk thread in a complimentary warm brown color. All of the findings are made from 14k rose gold fill wire. At the back is an easy to use hand-formed hook clasp with a connected "safety" chain that doubles as an extender. The hook and chain allow the bracelet to be adjustable for most wrist sizes. At the back of the bracelet is cute handmade silk tassel. This more sophisticated version of childhood friendship bracelets is great to be worn alone or stacked. ******************************* Each order comes complete with simple care instructions for the extended life of your purchase. Your order is hand-wrapped with care in craft paper wrapping with decorative twine, and is mailed to you in a cushioned envelope via USPS and tracking will be sent to you after it ships. All items ship free domestically with first-class mail and include insurance. LAST MINUTE ORDER? No problem! Shipping upgrades are available for both national and international orders. ********************************************* Thanks for visiting! Check out my About page to learn more about my work: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CatMHorn/about Follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cathornaccessory Instagram at: https://instagram.com/cathornaccessory/ If you are interested in receiving email updates about sales or new seasonal lines, sign up for my newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/3b067296a7d1/be-a-vip

[creativepacking]

3+7 Automatic Wooden Mechanical Wrist Watch Winder Box  Automatic Watch Winder   6 Slots Watch Winder

 Acrylic top display well

Super large capacity for 7 watches storage

Super silent motors: super quiet winding operation without running noise

Auto-daily repeat: working, resting and  sleeping

 Automatic Watch Winder Description

 6+8 Automatic Wooden Mechanical Wrist Watch Winder Box 

Material

MDF+White PU Leather+Plastic Watch dial

Color

 Black and Ebony available in stock

Dimension

 495x252x220 mm

Power

Adapter/Plug and Battery

Motor

Japanese Mabuchi motor

MOQ

5 pcs to get wholesale price

for stock products, 1 piece is welcome

Customized

Welcome your professional design

Products feature

Handmade, promotional, fashionable, elegant, graceful, non toxic, non smell, eco friendly,  durable, pliable, non-stick finish

Logo

Silk-screen, embossed, metal sticker, lazer, hot stamped

Quality

Middle quality

High End quality

Exterior

Any imitation wood paper can be choosed

Any real wood venner can be choosed 

Interior

High quality velvet lining

Bottom

Felt Scratch Resistant velvet  Bottom

Surface Finish

Matte finish

High glossy finish

Sample Time

Wooden box: 10-15 days;

Leather box:7-10 days

Lead Time

3 days for existed products

35-45 days for mass production

Service

Welcome your professional design and we focus on providing high end products at very competitve price  in the market                                                                        

Payment

30% deposit, 70% balance

Shipping method

by sea, air or express

Application

wholesale, promotion, retail, gift, graduation, anniversary, stationary store, pen store

 Instruction:

Watch Winder is a device with an electric motor and one or more rotating platforms, to automatically wind up your watch when you are not wearing it. A winder keeps an automatic watch running and ready to wear any times .it also serves to keep the lubricating oil inside the moving mechanism smoothly and evenly distributed, when you are not wearing your watch for a long period of time. A watch winder provides angular and/or circular motions that convert the motion’s kinetic energy into stored micro electrical energy, so as to keep the watch movement running. Watch winders are useful for an “automatic” or “self-winding” watch; A quartz watch does not need a watch winder.

 In short, a Pure black Watch Winder serves 3 functions:

Provide convenience and time savings to watch owners, and an ease of mind that your watch is ready to wear

whenever you want, even if you do not wear the watch frequently;

Reduce an automatic watch’s wear and tear, in particular to the crown winding mechanism;

Enhance the mechanical life of the watches.

Avoid exposing the watch winder to direct sun, watch or other moisture, and extreme temperatures which may

damage the box.

 The following questions and answers may be of interest of you regarding our services :

1. When can I get the price? We usually quote within 24 hours after we get your inquiry. If you are very urgent to get the price, please call us or tell us in your email so that we will regard your inquiry priority. 

2.How can I get a sample to check your quality?

After price confirmation, you can require for samples to check our quality. If you need the samples, we will charge for the sample cost .But the sample cost can be refundable after oreder confirmation when your quantity of the order is more about the MOQ. 

3.What kind of files do you accept for printing?

AI, PDF, CoreDraw, high resolution JPG 4.Can you do the design for us? Yes. We have a professional team having rich experience in gift box design and manufacturing. Just tell us your ideas and we will help to carry out your ideas into perfect packaging boxes.

5.How long can I expect to get the sample?

After you pay the sample charge and send us confirmed files, the samples will be ready for delivery in  5-10 days for leather box, 7-15 for wood box. The samples will be sent to you via express and arrive in 5-7 days. You can use your own express account or prepay us if you do not have an account. 6.What about the lead time for mass production?

Honestly, it depends on the order quantity and the season you place the order. The lead time of MOQ is about 35 to 45 days. Generally speaking, we suggest that you start inquiry two months before the date you would like to get the products at your country.  7.What is your terms of delivery? We accept EXW, FOB, CIF, etc. You can choose the one which is the most convenient or cost effective for you.

8.Service/policy/warranty or After-sale service

1 Your inquiry will be replied within 12 hours.

2 Well-trained & experienced sales can reply your inquiries in English.

3 During working time, E-mail will be replied to you within 2 hours

4 OEM & ODM projects are highly welcomed. We have strong R&D team.

5 The order will be produced exactly according to order details and proofed samples. Our QC will submit inspection report before shipment.

6 Your business relationship with us will be confidential to any third party.

7 Good after-sale service.

9. About factory

Company first started factory with main products-watch winder. We have ranked top 15 in Dongguan city of China. With over 11 years’ experience, our craftsmanship has become very mature and is still improving in details and technics. Any certificates required for selling watch winders in your country can be offered by us. Our watch winders have been exported to Germany, the UK, Switzerland, Finland, the USA, Japan and Korea.

 Package Included: 

1 x Watch Winder (not included watches)

 We are a professional Watch Winder supplier. Custom orders are welcome, we have our own R&D department and professional sample designers.

 For more information on high-end gift boxes,please click here.

https://www.creativepacking.net/watch-winder/wooden-watch-winder.html

[miammmiam]

🔥After a night of 🌜dancing and partying: 🐱Gute Nacht 🐈 handprint silk screen 3 colors on paper “Dorée” 170 Gr 42x29,7 cm, limited edition: 28 signed and numbered copies, 2019. On sale on my online shop (link On my bio) . . . . #screenprinting #screenprint #siebdruck #mini #cute #illustration #serigraphie #serigraphy #print #gutenacht #goodnight #bonne nuit #onpaper #mignon #dessin #love #couple #limitededition #stattlab #handmade #chat #cat #chats #katze #cutecat https://www.instagram.com/p/BxofSleCo1g/?igshid=v9o5j3ceypcb

[gethealthy18-blog]

Best Natural and Non-Toxic Toys for Kids

New Post has been published on http://healingawerness.com/news/best-natural-and-non-toxic-toys-for-kids/

Best Natural and Non-Toxic Toys for Kids

Reading Time: 7 minutes

It wasn’t until I had my first child that I ever really thought about the ingredients used to make many common household objects or their potential dangers. Once I had a little one who completely relied on me for his safety, I started to really research what was in common items like cleaners, scented candles, and detergents.

Then I learned about the problems with many children’s toys… ones my baby would be putting in his mouth. Since that time, I’ve been working to find natural, organic, and sustainable alternatives to many common toys. This swap took years to make and a lot of trial and error, but we found our favorites.

While I’ll always be a big believer that outdoor equipment is better than piles of indoor toys, these are our favorite natural and non-toxic toys that have stood the test of time.

Are Toys Today Toxic?

It’s hard to believe that any toys today are made with toxic materials considering there are more regulations than ever before. Unfortunately, there are still big concerns with the materials being used by toy manufacturers and regulations are not enough to fix the problem.

A significant revelation in the awareness surrounding this issue came from a 2008 report from HealthyToys.org. According to the report, one in three children’s toys contains significant levels of toxic chemicals. For example, lead was still a major concern in toys despite the public knowing about its toxicity since the 1970s (and that there is no safe level).

They found not only lead, but other toxins in toys as well:

BPA

PVC

Lead

Phthalates

Cadmium

Chlorine

Arsenic

Flame retardants

Many families stay away from toys made in China because they have fewer regulations, but the report showed there were similar amounts of toxins in toys from many different countries (including the U.S. and Canada).

The report also found that children’s jewelry is the worst source of contamination. Compared to other products, children’s jewelry is twice as likely to contain detectable levels of lead.

Toys Today

Shortly after this report, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) was set in motion which imposed new testing and documentation requirements. It also set new acceptable levels of several substances used in manufacturing.

This was a huge step forward for reducing toxins in toys (specifically lead) but experts say it isn’t enough. For one thing, the chemicals that replace banned chemicals may be just as harmful (more on this below).

In 2017, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) published its 32nd annual Trouble in Toyland report. It found that there is still a lot to be concerned about regarding toys and toxins. Toys are still being recalled regularly, and those recalls are based on known toxins or safety issues, not on new and emerging ones. Many toxins are not yet recognized as unsafe by the government. All in all, we can’t rely on government regulations to completely protect us from toxic toys.

Toxic Plastics

Plastics are a huge problem for the environment as well as the human body. PVC is a common plastic in children’s toys but is arguably the worst kind of plastic. It can contain lead, cadmium, phthalates, and volatile organic compounds. According to Ecowatch, vinyl chloride, the chemical used to make PVC, has been described as a known carcinogen. The EPA has created more restrictions on PVC building materials (like flooring) based on growing evidence of toxicity, so using PVC for children’s toys is simply outrageous.

Another concerning plastic is BPA. According to research including a 2014 study, BPA can disrupt hormones, causing sexual dysfunction, fertility issues and defects in growing embryos like feminization of male fetuses.

Many manufacturers began phasing BPA out of their products in 2008, but this chemical is often being replaces with another similar one BPS. Scientific America reports that BPS is just as harmful as BPA. It can disrupt normal cell functioning which can lead to diabetes, obesity, asthma, birth defects or even cancer.

How Do You Know If a Toy Is Safe?

The tricky thing about chemicals in toys is that you can’t tell just by looking at them whether they contain toxic chemicals or not. Luckily there is a handy website called ToySafety.org can help guide you when choosing toys. Additionally, check for recalls regularly on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website.

While these steps are important, it’s equally important to follow these guidelines for choosing toys:

Avoid Plastic

Plastics are generally toxic for humans and for the environment, so avoiding them when possible is your best bet. Stick with natural materials like:

unfinished, solid, non-toxic wood

organic cotton

untreated wool

If the wood is finished, it should be finished with natural oils and waxes like beeswax or walnut oil. If avoiding all plastic isn’t possible, choose toys made with polypropylene or ABS, which are some of the safest plastics available.

Avoid PVC and Phthalates

Because PVC is especially harmful to people and the environment, it’s a plastic I recommend avoiding specifically. Plastic softeners (phthalates) in many plastics, including PVC, often have a specific smell (think beach balls, kids plastic tents, slip and slides, etc), so they’re fairly easy to avoid. Also, consider whether the plastic smell is being covered up by fragrances (which aren’t healthy either).

Avoid Painted Toys

Avoid coatings or paints that can contain lead. Many toys made in China (and some other places) that are painted have lead in them. Stick with U.S., Canada, or European toys if you want painted wooden toys (and, of course, research the company).

Best Non-Toxic Toy Brands

It’s still not easy to avoid toxins in toys, that’s why it’s important to find companies you can trust. Many companies have pledged to keep harmful chemicals out of their toys. Here are some of the best ones and the ones that have stood the test of time for us:

Blocks, Building, and Figures

PlanToys – These toys are made from natural rubberwood trees that no longer produce latex. The dyes they use are free of heavy metals as well.

Grimm’s – A great selection of painted wood stacking and building toys.

Haba – This company produces most of its wooden toys in Germany and uses sustainable wood harvesting practices. They also use non-toxic paint.

Petit Collage – All these toys are made with recycled paper and without PVC. This company also makes great puzzles and magnet sets.

Cloth and Fabric

Cloth and fabric toys are often a baby’s first toy, but choose a company that uses non-toxic, untreated fabrics.

Under the Nile – This company uses 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton for its cloth toys and teethers.

Finn and Emma – The fabric toys are made with organic cotton and the wooden toys are made with natural wood. I also find their prices pretty reasonable.

Arts and Crafts

Arts and crafts are a favorite around my house so I’m glad to have some choices:

Eco-Kids – This art supply company uses natural materials for its products including natural wax, mineral pigments, and 100% pure beeswax.

Natural Art Supplies – This company is very open about where the materials they use come from.

“Safer” Plastic Toys (Gasp!)

Here are some of the VERY few plastic toys that have made it into our stash simply because they are such favorites:

Legos – These are made with ABS plastic which is one of the safest plastics.

Magnatiles – Made in China but without toxins like BPA, phthalates, and PVC. They do contain magnets though, which can be dangerous if the pieces break, so consider using these with supervision.

Our Favorite Non-Toxic Natural Toys (Kid-Tested and Mom-Approved)

And the Kids’ Choice Awards go to the following toys that are totally worth keeping around:

Basic Wooden Natural Toys

Wood toys are by far my favorite toys, especially for little ones. I love finding handmade wooden toys at farmer’s markets or on Etsy. As I mentioned, I love Haba brand toys for babies and little kids and they are made to European standards, which are stricter than U.S. standards for safety and avoidance of chemicals. These natural Montessori-inspired baby teething toys are also a big hit with my babies.

Blocks

I’m a huge fan of toys that encourage creative play. Legos are one of the only plastic toys we have, and I make the exception because they encourage hours of imaginative play. For little kids, plain wooden blocks are a great thing to have on hand. We still have some blocks that my husband’s father made for him when he was young, and I also got these all-natural lead-free blocks.

Dress Up

We have a variety of play silks that the children use for dress-up and imaginative play, as well as many homemade costumes. I’ve found that these encourage hours of creative play at our home. Melissa and Doug also makes a great line of dress-up costumes.

Wooden Trains

A huge favorite at our house. I’ve found some great wooden trains and tracks on Craigslist and at yard sales and we also have this set.

Craft Bins

I love having pre-made activity and craft bins that I can pull out and do with the kids. i’ve chronicled many of our favorites on Pinterest. We also have a wooden tabletop easel for drawing and painting.

Musical Instruments

This one isn’t for the faint of heart. Seriously. If you have more than one child, musical instruments can quickly turn a room of otherwise quiet children into a rock band that rivals a crowded stadium in sound levels. Instruments are, however, really fun for children. We have these simple wooden instruments and the children love creating their own songs with them.

Dolls & Dollhouse

One of my most fond childhood memories is playing for hours with the dollhouse she and my grandfather made when I was young. Instead of plastic dolls with fake faces, I had five rooms of wooden doll furniture and a little wooden family with yarn for hair. I redecorated that dollhouse, rearranged furniture, made miniature books for them and took them on vacations in the backyard. My children may not all remember my grandmother, but I have a heck of a dollhouse to pass on to them one day and some great memories to share.

If you don’t have a handmade dollhouse, a friend has this solid wood dollhouse from Hape and loves the quality.

Bow & Arrow and Slingshots

Such are the things boyhood is made of. These carved wooden slingshots are a favorite with my boys and they love shooting wooden bow and arrows at the trees in the backyard.

Support Your Natural Toy Maker!

It’s wonderful to see companies making toys more like they used to be: simple, interesting, and made of natural materials. Let me know if I forgot some of your favorite non-toxic or natural toys!

What toys are favorites at your house? Share below!

Sources:

Ecology_Center. (2018, April 09). Toys 2008. Retrieved from https://www.ecocenter.org/healthy-stuff/reports/toys-2008

Trouble In Toyland. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://uspirgedfund.org/sites/pirg/files/cpn/USN-112117-A1-REPORT/trouble-in-toyland-32.html

Chen, S., Ma, Y., Wang, J., Chen, D., Luo, X., & Mai, B. (2009). Brominated Flame Retardants in Children’s Toys: Concentration, Composition, and Children’s Exposure and Risk Assessment. Environmental Science & Technology,43(11), 4200-4206. doi:10.1021/es9004834

Brominated Flame Retardants. (2012, January 17). Retrieved from https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?Lab=NHEERL&dirEntryId=226582

Why You Should Avoid PVC Products. (2019, January 31). Retrieved from https://www.ecowatch.com/why-you-should-avoid-pvc-products-1881927242.html

 Manfo, F. P., Jubendradass, R., Nantia, E. A., Moundipa, P. F., & Mathur, P. P. (2013). Adverse Effects of Bisphenol A on Male Reproductive Function. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Volume 228, 57-82. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-01619-1_3

Bilbrey, J. (2014, August 11). BPA-Free Plastic Containers May Be Just as Hazardous. Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bpa-free-plastic-containers-may-be-just-as-hazardous/

Source: https://wellnessmama.com/23984/natural-toys-for-kids/